READINGTON TWP. — Members of the township's largely volunteer emergency services units would be suspended immediately if charged with a crime involving drugs, theft or danger to another person, under an amended ordinance that could be decided tonight by the Township Committee.

A conviction would lead to expulsion.

An ordinance amending rules pertaining to township emergency service members — defined as those in township fire departments or rescue squads — is on the agenda for this evening's Township Committee meeting at the Municipal Building on Route 523. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

About 80 cases of Monster energy drink were stolen at the Quick Chek Festival of Ballooning in July, and five volunteer firefighters were charged with the theft.

The Readington Fire Company is employed by the Balloon Festival to provide fire protection services at the event, police reported. Of the suspects charged, three were identified as members of Readington Fire Company and two from East Whitehouse Fire Company.

Mayor Tom Auriemma said that the ordinance wasn't sparked by the charges. He said that officials were working on updates earlier, but allowed that the charges had "moved up" the ordinance amendments.

An earlier vote on the ordinance was delayed because the full committee was not in attendance.